SEU Worship: Blessing Born of Prayer

Southeastern University (SEU) finds itself among the fastest growing private universities in the United States. Located in Lakeland, Florida, AG-affiliated SEU offers 115 degree programs at associate, bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. Led by President Kent Ingle, nearly 12,000 students are enrolled globally.

SEU is living exciting days for several reasons, not the least of which is the tremendous amount of growth, favor and opportunity being afforded its campus worship team, SEU Worship.

“Something very important to understand is that everything happening with SEU Worship is an expression of the spiritual atmosphere here on the SEU campus,” says campus pastor and former Florida Multicultural AG district youth director Jonathan Rivera. “The other key thing to know is that this is student led. God is moving among GenZ.”

And what is happening with SEU Worship? Tremendous things.

Birthed in 2014 from the group formerly called the Southeastern Singers, SEU Worship has a threefold vision:

1. To provide worship music in campus chapel each week
2. To develop the next generation of songwriters and worship leaders
3. To write songs that are a gift and blessing to local churches

Rivera shares that over the last decade, SEU Worship has seen different iterations, leaders and seasons.

Around four years ago, massive transitions occurred, and the group’s future became uncertain. Leaders at that time felt pressed by Jesus to lean into prayer and fasting. In the four years following that new emphasis, the group —a collaboration between six ‘core artists’ (SEU alumni who were all part of the group as students), 20-30 current students, and faculty and staff — saw more growth, expansion and reach than in the previous 10 years combined.

Today the group is signed with Provident, the Christian music arm of Sony. In 2024 they toured with Winter Jam (the largest annual Christian music tour in the United States) and are now working with Christian radio station Air1, collaborating with various churches, and more. Their song “What a God” recently ranked in the top 250 songs being sung weekly in churches worldwide.

“I get videos every week from churches across the U.S. and places like London, Sweden, and South Africa, singing and redoing SEU Worship songs,” says Rivera.

“This is probably the most fulfilling workplace to be part of. I love that we get to be a safe place that trains leaders and worshippers for God’s kingdom,” Shaqat Odongo, SEU Worship’s music director and tour manager, says. “SEU Worship is stepping into a new and beautiful season. Our new album is set to come out this summer and our first single, Fruit Takes Time, is a testament to the work the team has put in and to the faithfulness of God in bringing us to this point. We want to worship the King with clean hands and pure hearts.”

Across new and vast platforms, SEU Worship is exalting Jesus and His work on their campus. Many who are familiar with SEU Worship do not realize its connection with Southeastern University. The group, currently led by Chelsea Plank-McGuinness, is excited to share that God is doing something at SEU.

Following the revival at Asbury University in 2023, SEU students were spurred to prayer as well, launching a Tuesday morning prayer chapel that continues strongly into the present.

“If you ask any student on campus, ‘What’s the best chapel of the week,’ for sure they’ll answer that it is Tuesday morning prayer chapel,” Rivera says. “Everything that is happening with SEU Worship is a direct result of what God is doing here on the SEU campus. We even have a Monday night chapel, with students staying until midnight hungry to be in the presence of God.”

Additionally, thousands of college students from around the Lakeland area currently attend the weekly SEU chapel services.

Rivera concludes, “All across campus, things are being led by amazing students coming from all over the world. They are writing songs, leading worship, leading missions teams, and more. We as staff just want to support them.”

Kristel Zelaya

Kristel Zelaya is a freelance writer and editor with global experience. She served as marketing manager for Assemblies of God U.S. Missions and as a writer and editor for Assemblies of God World Missions. These experiences have led her to numerous countries and cultures — far from beaten paths — on behalf of many who did not know how deeply their stories matter. Zelaya is also a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She and her husband Rudy share one daughter.